Lucknow: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government carried out a sweeping transfer of 33 IAS officers, including 11 District Magistrates (DMs), late on Monday night. The reshuffle, which comes just months ahead of key administrative deadlines and political developments, signals a strategic reorganization aimed at optimizing governance and accelerating developmental initiatives across the state.
This high-level bureaucratic shuffle touches various key departments and includes reshuffling in sensitive and politically important districts, including Varanasi, Bareilly, Jhansi, Azamgarh, Hapur, and Mahoba.
Key Changes in Varanasi and CM’s Office
One of the most notable changes is the transfer of 2006 batch IAS officer Kaushal Raj Sharma, the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, who has now been appointed Secretary to the Chief Minister, a position that will place him at the core of state decision-making. In his place, 2009 batch IAS officer S. Rajalingam, who previously served as the District Magistrate of Varanasi, will now take over as the Divisional Commissioner.
Meanwhile, 2013 batch IAS officer Satyendra Kumar, previously Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been appointed the new District Magistrate of Varanasi.
New Faces in District Leadership
The reshuffle has led to a wide-ranging change in district leadership, with new District Magistrates being appointed in 11 districts:
- Azamgarh – Ravindra Kumar II
- Bareilly – Avinash Singh
- Ambedkar Nagar – Anupam Shukla
- Hapur – Abhishek Pandey
- Ghazipur – Avinash Kumar (replacing Aryaka Akhouri, who becomes Special Secretary, Medical Health)
- Jhansi – Mridul Chaudhary
- Mahoba – Gazal Bhardwaj
- Kushinagar – Mahendra Singh Tanwar
- Sant Kabir Nagar – Alok Kumar
- Bhadohi – Shailesh Kumar
- Varanasi – Satyendra Kumar
Other Key Appointments and Departmental Restructuring
- Gaurav Kumar replaces Indrajit Singh as Municipal Commissioner of Lucknow. Singh has been reassigned as Special Secretary, Energy Department.
- Vishal Singh, previously the DM of Bhadohi, has been made Director of Information and Culture.
- Shishir, the outgoing Information Director, now takes over as Special Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion Department, and CEO of the Khadi and Village Industries Board.
- Amit Gupta, Principal Secretary of Stamp and Registration, has been given additional charge of the Transport Department and has been named Chairman, UP State Road Transport Corporation, replacing Lakku Venkateshwar Lu, who continues to hold other posts.
- Jagdish, MD of Uttar Pradesh Medical Supply Corporation, has been appointed Home Secretary. His previous role will be taken over by Dr. Ujjwal Kumar.
- Pulkit Khare has been appointed Mission Director, Skill Development Mission.
- Dr. Ved Pati Mishra has been made Secretary of the UP State Information Commission.
- Prerna Sharma, former DM of Hapur, is now Director of the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA).
- Anubhav Singh becomes Vice President, Moradabad Development Authority.
- Sanjay Kumar Meena, formerly CDO of Gorakhpur, is the new Vice President, Meerut Development Authority.
- Shahid Ahmed has been posted as Chief Development Officer, Shravasti, while Harshita Singh takes charge as CDO of Prayagraj, and Shashwat Tripurari as CDO of Gorakhpur.
Strategic Move
The large-scale reshuffle, especially in districts like Varanasi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency – and other key urban centers, reflects the state government’s strategic focus on administrative effectiveness, infrastructure development, and preparation for upcoming political and governance challenges.
